Poland’s history has been marked with invasions, occupations and atrocities inflicted on the country by neighbouring nations. At the same time, the country has been a source of great artistic and cultural achievement, with the medieval era being a time of particularly noteworthy success. From this point through the late 19th century, Poland’s territory was divided among the neighbouring powers of Austria-Hungary, Germany and Russia. The general population endured famine and poverty under the hands of the occupying powers, and as a result there was mass emigration - of more than five million Poles – mainly to the US.